Pier One store robbed at Grossmont Center

The robber forced a female employee to open the store’s safe while holding an object, possibly a knife, to her back, about 9:20 a.m., police said.

He ran away with an undisclosed amount of cash and was last seen headed into the parking structure.

He was described as black, in his early 20s, 6 feet tall, 165 pounds, wearing a black ski mask, gray hooded sweat shirt, black pants and white sneakers.

A police helicopter and officers searched the area.

Anyone with information is asked to call La Mesa police at (619) 667-1400 or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477 or sdcrimestoppers.com. Tipsters may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000 for information that leads to an arrest.